Live updates of developments after the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, selected by Reuters.com editors and readers. To see updates from Reuters only, click "Options" and turn off comments.

@blob Don't quote me on this, but i'm pretty sure the water is instantly vaporized before it even gets near the containment vessel.

発信者 Dennis Meyers3/14/2011 3:09:03 AM

@blob it's not overly complicated. they are manually forcing ocean water into the core in order to cool it. they cant do anything else at this point

発信者 Dan3/14/2011 3:09:05 AM

mour, IAEA is there and watching every thing. go to their web site

発信者 Dean3/14/2011 3:09:16 AM

I saw a press conference today with the IAEA director. He said that they would be available if Japan requested assistance. I guess they haven't, so far.

発信者 mc5263/14/2011 3:09:59 AM

@Mour The primary body is the Japanese overwatch, NISA.

発信者 JBID3/14/2011 3:10:02 AM

I read a report a few minutes ago that stated that the Japanese had stopped pumping in seawater to cool the No. 3 reactor. Can anyone explain why they did this? Could this have lead to the explosion of reactor No. 3?

発信者 Jenn3/14/2011 3:10:08 AM

Don't underestimate the difficulty of "pumping" water into vessel. Fireengine pumps don't have adequate psi to force water into a high-pressure environment. As to vessel walls, if they could withstand extremely high heat, the pressure cause by super-heated steam, and volatile gasses released by cladding and rod melt, then they wouldn't BOTHER to pump in water.

発信者 guessinggame3/14/2011 3:10:14 AM

@blob Essentially they're pouring water so the temperature doesn't go high enough to melt the reactor internal structure and fuel bars (that's the "meltdown"). If they keep the temp low enough till the secondary radiactive activity of the reactor runs out, it'll be ok. Even if it melts down it's not that bad, provided the armor is intact. Which should be.

発信者 Sir Sefirot3/14/2011 3:10:28 AM

a total of 7 people are missing now

発信者 Dean3/14/2011 3:11:36 AM

Is there video anywhere out there of the latest explosion at the plant? (Reactor #3)

発信者 klg3/14/2011 3:11:37 AM

@Jenn That's false. They are still pumping in water and occasionally lacing it with boric acid.

発信者 JBID3/14/2011 3:11:42 AM

IAEA does not have authority to do much; Japan is a soverign state that is calling the shots. I am sure IAEA will help if asked.

発信者 Jim3/14/2011 3:11:44 AM

www3.nhk.or.jp this is for existing news on injuries a bruise by operator

発信者 Dean3/14/2011 3:11:47 AM

@Jenn Probably they stopped because the H2 concentrations were too dangerous to continue. They were aware of the problem since yesterday, and had warned that such an explosion was possible. It could be other things - who knows. The work the engineers are doing there currently is insanely difficult

発信者 Sir Sefirot3/14/2011 3:12:06 AM

TEPCO: 7 people missing, 6 of them being Self Defense Forces

発信者 Andrew3/14/2011 3:12:08 AM

@Jenn The only reason they'd stop is for a potential tsunami, but no tsunami warning was officially issued -- just some rogue dude in a helicopter looking at the ocean.

発信者 JBID3/14/2011 3:12:10 AM

There are a number of reasons theyd be forced to stop pumping water...theyre doing it manually for one which poses a personnel risk, any of the requisite machinery could face issues, amongst other things i cant think of. temperatures at that level make average things exponentially more difficult

発信者 Dan3/14/2011 3:12:34 AM

Meltdown simply means the fuel has melted due to excessive core temperatures. Tepco has indicated in their press releases that a partial meltdown has likely occurred. Water still can flow through the core, remove heat, and prevent further damage. Plus, as time goes on, there is less decay heat, so as long as the fuel remains covered with water, the problem should not escalate.

発信者 kmcaprice143/14/2011 3:12:40 AM

Thanks for the clarification. It's hard to get a clear picture of what exactly is happening on site.

Just to reiterate: Edano confirmed they have not stopped pumping water. I don't know where that report came from. NHK/TEPCO has not confirmed it; it's probably false.

発信者 JBID3/14/2011 3:13:46 AM

Where I come from water boils at 100degreesC, so I'm not confident that a bit of sea water is enough to cool a core that is around 1500/2200degreesC??

発信者 Aus3/14/2011 3:15:25 AM

After looking at that explosion, I would say there isnt a lot they could be doing. The roof looks like it went several hundred feet in the air.

発信者 NobleLogic3/14/2011 3:15:42 AM

Thanks for the vid Amaltea. That's what I was looking for.

発信者 klg3/14/2011 3:15:50 AM

@JBID I guess a bit of "fog of war" is inevitable in these kind of happenings, even more so when the closest camera is kms away.

発信者 Sir Sefirot3/14/2011 3:15:54 AM

Off Kyodo abut the stopped pumping of water: "The seawater injection stopped around 1 a.m. due to the shortage of water left in tanks, but resumed for No. 3 reactor at 3:20 a.m., according to the nuclear safety agency."

I would really rather see the Reuters reports instead of alot of comments and speculation. There are plenty of discussion boards out there for sharing comments. The Reuters reports don't seem to be coming in as often as they were?

発信者 anonimoose3/14/2011 3:19:50 AM

Any news about the second tsunami ?

発信者 Anny3/14/2011 3:21:25 AM

@anonimoose on the contrary we are gettin most info form news networks via live feeds then updating here.

発信者 Chris3/14/2011 3:21:28 AM

The Japan weather agency said there was no tsunami.

発信者 Reuters.com3/14/2011 3:21:49 AM

News flow on our wires has slowed a bit.

発信者 Reuters.com3/14/2011 3:23:04 AM

Lots of comments flooding in. We're giving precedence to those adding new information and links.

発信者 Reuters.com3/14/2011 3:24:02 AM

@anonimoose Many are providing links and well-sourced information. We need all the data we can to help everyone find the truth about what is going on.

発信者 SJ3/14/2011 3:24:49 AM

Well-sourced information is very welcome.

発信者 Reuters.com3/14/2011 3:25:21 AM

@Anny : Japan's weather agency dismisses tsunami fears (11:48)

発信者 guyco3/14/2011 3:25:41 AM

Moody's sees no immediate sign of fiscal crisis in Japan after disaster and says Japan's mega banks "seem to be okay"

発信者 Shadia Ismail3/14/2011 3:26:27 AM

As some of commentators have mentioned, there's a button to hide the comments if you only want to see the Reuters updates. That said, I'm finding your contributions most useful.

発信者 Reuters.com3/14/2011 3:27:06 AM

I have been flip flopping and this site is by far the most informative. Meaning better and more updates than CNN, BBC and CBC. Only there was more updated and accurate information when Michael Jackson died than what we are getting about this, a potentially lethal situation for all of us on this planet earth.